Let’s face it: Winter is pretty much the worst season when it comes to looking amazing! Your hair is static, your eyes watery and your skin is dry, pretty much everywhere.

Soft, dewy skin that’s immune to the effects of icy temps, whipping winds and Sahara-like heating indoors? Good luck with that, right? Yes, its wintertime and the livin’ ain’t easy for your skin! Did you know that your skin loses up to 25% of its ability to hold moisture in the winter months? As the mercury drops, your skin will demand an upgrade to your skincare regiment.

Follow this battle plan to fight the dry skin epidemic, keeping your skin soft, moisturised and winter-ready:

• Ditch the soap. Fragrant soapy gels might feel (and smell) wonderful, but they will leave your skin feeling dry in winter. Switch to a soap-free, hydrating cleanser. Pack the gels away and bring out the creamy body wash. You may want to go mild with your laundry detergent too. Designed to remove dirt and oils, residue may irritate dry, sensitive skin. Washing your hands regularly is key to keeping germs at bay, but it wreaks havoc on your skin’s moisture level. Consider replacing some of those washes with a hand sanitiser. They do contain alcohol that will dry out your skin, but often not to the extreme that soap and water can.
• Shorten those showers. Long steamy showers may sooth sore muscles, but they’re also good at dehydrating your skin. Hot water removes the skin’s natural oils quicker than warm or cold water. The skincare solution? Limit yourself to 5- or 10-minute showers. Then, when you’re done, pat dry, don’t rub.
• Soak smart. You’d think that sitting in a bath would hydrate your skin, but no, this will actually break down your body’s natural lipid barriers. Prevent this by keeping the water lukewarm and adding a few drops of almond oil, wheat germ, grapeseed oil or apricot kernel oil to your bath. The oil will create a comforting, moisturising layer on the skin that locks in hydration.
• Shampoo and condition first. Suds from your shampoo and conditioner inevitably run over your body and face, depositing a film caused by the strong cleansers and heavy moisturisers found in many hair products. Lather up with a creamy body wash afterwards to remove those moisture-zapping, itch-inducing chemicals.
• Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise. Apply moisture to damp skin, every time you wash. Also apply at night when your skin is making the least sebum. Switch from a lotion to a cream. Creams provide a stronger oily barrier, which means reduced water loss from the outer layers of the skin, as well hydrating the skin at the same time.
• Exfoliate with an oil-based scrub. A gentle body scrub and facial exfoliant, once a week, can help to remove dead skin cells. Try a mix of honey and sugar to soften dry patches on rough hands and knees to keep your skin soft and healthy.
• Hook up the humidifier. This will help to bring healthy moisture levels back to the skin. Try this at work.
• Wear protection against the harsh weather. When heading into the great outdoors, dress for the weather with a hat, scarf and gloves to avoid prolonged exposure to cold air. Also don’t forget the sunscreen, winter sun can be just as damaging.
• Up your intake of omega oils. Plant oils rich in essential fatty acids will help moisturise your body and skin from the inside out. Omega-3 and omega-6 help your skin produce more lipids, which naturally retain and balance natural oils and moisture levels.
• Drink plenty of water. Drinking enough H2O is one of the top ways to keep your skin healthy and hydrated this season.
• Love your lips. Protect your kisser by always, always using a lip balm with at least SPF 15.

Combat winter woes by following these basic skincare tips. Keep your skin healthy and glowing; no matter what old man winter throws your way.

Source: www.sheknows.com, www.health.com, awomanshealth.com, www.womanshealthmag.com, www.wikihow.com, www.drfrankklipman.com, www.webmd.com, allwomanstalk.com, www.womanshealthonline.com, www.huffingtonpost.com, www.rooirose.co.za